News

Former Washington Sen. Benton Blasts Revival Of I-5 Bridge Talks

by
Lauren Dake
The Columbian |
Feb. 28, 2017 2:08 p.m.

Former state Sen. Don Benton, the combative Republican legislator who led the battle to kill the Columbia River Crossing project, is continuing to fight against renewed interest in Olympia to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge.

Only this time, he’s doing so from his new position as senior White House adviser to President Donald Trump.

Last week, Benton sent text messages to several Republican state lawmakers expressing disapproval of their efforts to revive conversations about the bridge.

He told Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, who replaced him in the state Senate, “no good for you can come out of this,” according to Wilson.